I'm in Canada, so the Blue Jay propaganda is in my face 24/7 - they're re-airing the 1993 World Series in anticipation of their up-coming World Series, for example.

What's the perception outside of Canada? Anyone afraid of the Jays?

Afraid isn't the right word, but you have to have a healthy respect for them now.

All five AL East teams look evenly matched.

Except for the O's.

They were just lucky last year. lol

That's the way I look at it to - I could see anyone from the division making the playoffs. You can never count out the Rays, the Yankees are the Yankees, I don't know how the O's did it last year so I shouldn't be surprised if they pull it off this year, the Jays re-loaded so they should be in the thick of it, and I think the Sox are a lot better than they've been given credit for. They could finish 5th, but I think that says more about how evenly matched the division is this year.

if that core of players were a last place team in Miami i don't see how they are WS calibur in Toronto... granted the peripheral pieces Toronto has are much better than what surrounded them in Miami but aside from J Johnson those players they got are vastly over rated.. we'll see what happens.

if that core of players were a last place team in Miami i don't see how they are WS calibur in Toronto... granted the peripheral pieces Toronto has are much better than what surrounded them in Miami but aside from J Johnson those players they got are vastly over rated.. we'll see what happens.

I'm not convinced a team has to be a WS caliber team to win the AL East this year.

It was a smart and calculated move by AA to go "all in" this year and give up the future to win now when the ALE is probably about as even as its going to get. NY is showing their age and Boston is in transition. The O's are an enigma and the rays should be involved if they can produce on offense.

To answer your question, no, I would say teams are afraid of the jays but more aware that they are not a pushover team anymore.

I suspect both EE and Bautista might be living enhanced lives through the beauty of science. It could be a good team, but you could certainly raise questions about anyone on the team.

C-.710 with 108/18 K/W

1B-Still Lind with .729

2B-Bonifacio? With a .645 last year?

SS-Reyes-Excellent, but not many complete seasons

3B-Lawrie-Good prospect, but still only .729

CF-Rasmus with a .689 last year

LF, RF, DH- 3 PEDs suspects

RP-Janssen, Santos?

They assuming that Dickey, JJ, and Buehrle make a seamless transition to the ALE, that Morrow is not a flash in the pan, and that RR will come back. If the 5 starters do well, they'll win 90, but I can easily see two of the starting five faltering.

I suspect both EE and Bautista might be living enhanced lives through the beauty of science. It could be a good team, but you could certainly raise questions about anyone on the team.

C-.710 with 108/18 K/W

1B-Still Lind with .729

2B-Bonifacio? With a .645 last year?

SS-Reyes-Excellent, but not many complete seasons

3B-Lawrie-Good prospect, but still only .729

CF-Rasmus with a .689 last year

LF, RF, DH- 3 PEDs suspects

RP-Janssen, Santos?

They assuming that Dickey, JJ, and Buehrle make a seamless transition to the ALE, that Morrow is not a flash in the pan, and that RR will come back. If the 5 starters do well, they'll win 90, but I can easily see two of the starting five faltering.

The Jays took a risk signing Bautista to an extension after one good year. It's worked out well for them, but what are the chances it works out twice with EE? Nobody saw that coming either.

Rasmus has been getting by on "he'll be good someday" for years now. Melky with clean urinie was nothing to write home about. Bautista can hit for power but he can't hit for average, even if he thinks he knows the strike zone better than any umpire in the league. I'm not sold on Lawrie yet.

I think Buerhle will be reliable, but he isn't hiding that he wasn't thrilled to be traded to Toronto - I can see him doing one year and wanting out. Johnson's already stated he's going for the money in the off-season so he could be an in season trade candidate. Morrow can't stay healthy, and Romero was horrific last year.

At first glance their line up looks impressive, but there's enough question marks to not be sold on them....

I was the only Red Sox kid in school during the Blue Jay glory years. Them winning the World Series is almost as bad as the Yankees winning for me.